Shower pull cord housing burning..

[guyhood]

Hi

wondering if anyone can give me some advice. The shower pull cord housing is burning on one side of the face. Please see picture. Has anyone seen this before. The guy who fitted the shower has already replaced one. So this is the second one to burn along the same edge. My girlfriend called him today and he has told us it's nothing to really worry about. But anything electrical that has burning marks in my book is a fire waiting to happen. Thanks for any advice in advance.

Guy

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• guyhood
• 3 May 2008
• 1

 

[Spark123]

It needs replaced. What on earth does he mean - nothing to worry about!!
It is overheating and could catch fire.
Turn it off at the consumer unit and do not switch it back on until it has been replaced, you may also find the cables are damaged behind the switch and also need remedial work carried out on them. What size cables are they and what size shower?

 

[333rocky333]

You should stop using that.
It is either a cheap switch, loose connection or the switch is under rated for the shower.
What size is the shower

 

[mikeyd]

You are right to be concerned. That is my polite answer.

Was it an electrician who said it was nothing to be worried about? I'm guessing not.

You are looking at a new switch and quite possibly the cable will now be damaged beyond repair.

 

[333rocky333]

Do you know what make the switch is, looking at that , I would think the only thing there is nothing or the earth bar, it may be the shower or switch is wired wrong or faulty and possibly an excessive current passing through the earth bar somehow, causing it to get hot.

Either that or it is the cable laying in the space, burning through but it seems odd why it has happened twice unless it was not cut back and restripped after the previous incident.

 

[guyhood]

Thanks to everyone for replying. The shower is a 10.5Kw Galaxy Aqua 3000. Ok I'll not be using this again until I've spoken to the company that fitting this. I've switched it off at the isolator. Like I said he has already replaced one of these switches. Looks like he'll be doing it again and properly THIS time!!!!

I had an electrican in a few weeks ago doing an unrelated job. He also told me that the isolator used for the shower was not the right type. Im at the electricans mercy. My battery has just run out on my torch so I can't say to you guys the type of isolator used but I'll also mention it to the Shower installer when I speak to him.

Thanks for the posts.

You can be sure I'll use them against him.

Guy

 

[333rocky333]

He also told me that the isolator used for the shower was not the right type.

Did he say why,it looks like a shower switch.

He could not tell the rating without removing it I would have thought.

If it is a 45 amp version and a cheap switch from B+Q or similar your 10.5 kw shower will push the switch to the limit.

 

[RF Lighting]

possibly an excessive current passing through the earth bar somehow, causing it to get hot.

Thats exactly my thinking

If this is the case, then more than likely the cable all the way from the CU right upto the shower could be damaged beyond repair.


OP, as you have turned the power off, would you be happy to unsrew the two silver screws you can see in your photo, and gently ease the switch away from the back box?

If so, could you post a photo of the back of the switch for us to have a look at?

I think there may be something very wrong with your installation.